Chicago Protesters Rally Against ICE Raids and National Guard, Clashes with Police Erupt

On Tuesday evening, thousands of protesters gathered in downtown Chicago to rally against the Trump administration and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. The demonstration began with a rally at Federal Plaza before participants marched through the city, causing significant traffic disruptions. The protest remained largely peaceful, but tensions escalated at certain points, leading to clashes with police and several arrests. At around 6:15 p.m., a maroon sedan sped through the crowd of demonstrators at the intersection of Monroe Street and Wabash Avenue, narrowly avoiding injuries. Witnesses, including Dr. Howard Ehrman, accused Chicago police of failing to intervene effectively, with the car accelerating from 30 to 50 miles per hour as it fled the scene. The driver, a woman in a yellow tank top, was later seen with a can of spray paint and stopped only after her vehicle broke down on State Street in the South Loop. Despite the incident, the protest continued, with the crowd growing to over 1,000 people. Demonstrators blocked parts of DuSable Lake Shore Drive and marched through downtown, eventually reaching Grant Park by 6:30 p.m. Police in riot gear were deployed, and some protesters clashed with officers near Macys State Street around 8 p.m., resulting in additional arrests. The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) temporarily suspended bus services in the Loop due to the disruptions. The protest highlighted widespread opposition to ICE raids and the Trump administration's immigration policies, drawing attention to the ongoing national debate over immigration enforcement.

Thousands of protesters gathered in Chicago on Tuesday evening to demonstrate against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and the deployment of the National Guard by President Trump. The protests, which began with a downtown rally, caused significant traffic disruptions and led to clashes between demonstrators and police. ABC7 cameras captured at least five arrests, and riot gear-clad officers were deployed in the Loop area. A tense moment occurred around 6:15 p.m. when a car sped through a crowd of protesters at Wabash and Monroe, though no injuries were reported. The driver's intent remains unclear, and police are still searching for the suspect. Despite the incident, the protest continued, with the crowd growing to over 1,000 people and blocking parts of DuSable Lake Shore Drive by 6:40 p.m. The protesters marched through downtown, passing by ABC7's State Street studio, and eventually crossed into the River North neighborhood. By 8 p.m., clashes erupted near Macy's State Street, where officers detained three individuals after a water bottle was thrown at police. The protests were mostly peaceful but mirrored tensions seen in Los Angeles, where similar demonstrations against ICE actions and the National Guard deployment have occurred. Chicago police emphasized their role was to ensure public safety and denied violating the city's Welcoming Ordinance, which prohibits cooperation with ICE operations. Ald. Andre Vasquez has called for an investigation into whether police assisted ICE during mass arrests on June 4 at the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office. The incident has raised concerns about potential violations of Chicago's sanctuary city protections.